T HE simplest is usually the best method of doing anything in practical nursing. The nurse who understands fully the purpose of a treatment, and who can obtain the required results with the least annoyance to the patient in the most economical way, as to preparation and equipment, is usually the most successful one. The good nurse plans her work, gets everything ready outside the room and not in the presence of the patient, so that very little time is spent in actually carrying out the procedure. As the nurse understands each step and appreciates the significance of each detail, she will work intelligently and avoid mistakes. Her work is a joy instead of being a burden or sacrifice that she is destined to perform. There are few patients, although there are some, who really like " much ado about nothing," who desire complicated treatments. To fully appreciate the great improvement made in the use of the stomach pump, may I remind you of the old way. Mrs. A, having been troubled with indigestion, comes to the hospital for diagnosis. The formalities of being admitted to a ward include the admission bath, the larkspur cap for pediculi, removal of red flannels, etc. Having spent the evening watching the doctors and nurses doing all kinds of mysterious things, she finally drops off to sleep at 10 p.m., wondering what will happen to her. At 12, midnight, she is startled, jumps up out of her sleep, as she is awakened and required to eat twelve large raisins, this being the first step in the great stomach test. She then has a nervous spell, but drops off to sleep at 2 a.m. At 5 a.m., the big headlights in the